"beautiful heart grabbing story from a master"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted November 24, 2013
Romance
Kristan Higgins newest book The Next Best Thing is probably
one of the most emotionally charged stories I've read and
certainly elevates Higgins star status once again in my
book. I've come to expect wondrous stories from this bright
entertaining insightful author but THE NEXT BEST THING had
me mesmerized. My heart was totally invested in the outcome
of what is an engrossing story of trying to get over a
great tragedy and hopefully come out reasonably whole.
This is the story of Lucy whose husband of only eight
months died about five and a half years ago and left her
absolutely devastated. Luckily Lucy had an amazing support
group of family and friends. But her most leaned on friend
was Ethan -- her brother-in-law. Ethan had in fact
introduced Lucy to his brother Jimmy and as they say --
that's all they wrote. Jimmy and Lucy were an amazing
couple with a bright loving future. Then the unbelievable
happened when Jimmy was killed in a car accident and in
just a moment Lucy's life was changed forever.
Lucy and Ethan shared a seemingly superficial but mutually
satisfying sexual relationship, a kind of friends with
benefits deal after Jimmy's death. It just sort of
happened. But what worked on the surface was going to
slowly unravel as Lucy tries to move forward with her life
leaving Ethan hanging in the balance. What was a long
established and cherished friendship to Lucy was much more
to her brother-in-law Ethan.
Imagine spending your life in someone else's shadow -- the
also ran -- being the next best thing. After a while even
the strongest person with solid self-confidence needs to be
number one. The pursuit of the prime slot can be a real
challenge but in the end the prize will be worth it the
fight. Ethan Mirabelli is in the fight of his life or more
accurately his heart.
But if you are thinking that the title of this book is
about Ethan, think again. Lucy's mission to rebuild a life
isn't necessarily designed around finding a new love.
In the story of Lucy and Ethan the song by Bob Marley that
everything's going to be all right keeps popping up.
Higgins reminds us that nothing is as perfect as our
memories. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be so we
don't live a life with regrets. Regrets for what we didn't
do or didn't know.
THE NEXT BEST THING has everything I look for in a book.
Touches of humor brought to us by Lucy's infamously witchy
aunts and mother better known as the Black Widows -- whose
names are Iris, Rose and Daisy. Just priceless. A bit of
superstition psychic thrown in for good measure which if
you know Kristan Higgins shouldn't be glossed over. There
is something of value on every page. All of Kristan Higgins
books are treasures to be saved and read over and over
again. THE NEXT BEST THING has just become my best thing
and I am certain it will be yours as well.
SUMMARY
Lucy Lang isn't looking for fireworks… She's looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who'll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbecue, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important: someone who won't inspire the slightest stirring in her heart…or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can't risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn't enough either. So it's goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate "friend with privileges," and hello to a man she can marry. Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn't going anywhere. As far as he's concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?
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